Welcome!
Date: Friday, July 23, 2010
Today: The rise and fall of Mephibosheth
Passage: 2 Samuel 9:3, 13 NIV
3 The king asked, “Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”
Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet.”
13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was crippled in both feet.
When David became the king of Israel, he wanted to know if there was anyone in Saul’s family to whom he should show mercy, for Jonathan’s (Saul’s son & David’s best friend, who had already died) sake
Ziba, the servant of Saul mentioned about Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son who was left
But Mephibosheth was crippled, and people with handicaps were forbidden, by law, from the palace
However, David let Mephibosheth to live in Jerusalem, and eat at the King’s table, an honor he (Mephibosheth) never deserved
The mercy that Mephibosheth received from David was similar to that which you and I received from God
God, who is King of Kings, decided to come down to our level and accepted us into His kingdom, into His royal priesthood (2 Peter 2:9)
Mephibosheth was declared as the owner of all that belonged to Saul
Jesus also gave us the ownership of everything that belongs to Him (Rom 8:17)
17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
But later, Mephibosheth lost the honor he received
When David had to flee into the wilderness in fear of his son Absalom, Ziba went there to meet David, but Mephibosheth did not!
3 The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”
Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom.’ ”
4 Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” (2 Sam 16: 3-4, NIV)
So David ordered that all that belonged to Mephibosheth, now belongs to Ziba
Later on, Mephibosheth tells a different story about what actually happened (2 Sam 19: 26-27)
However, when Mephibosheth did not show-up in the trouble-times of David, Mephibosheth lost all that he earned because of Davis’s mercy
We can live a thankless life, and loose many of the blessings that God gave us for free
If we received mercy, we have to show the same to others
In the Bible, we can see how people were lifted by God to the highest position, and then, how they were brought down to the lowliest, as they acted in pride and arrogance; starting from Adam and Eve!
Are we thankful to God for what He did for us?
Are we kind as merciful to others in need?
May God let us remember, where we came from
Let us not forget those who helped us reach where we are today
When they become old and weak, when they go through troubles, better not disregard them
I know people who “dumped” their life-partner after years of family life, when the latter became ill or weak for whatever reason
Until that time, they were good!
God is watching
Above all, don’t forget what the Lord has done for you and me
What are we doing for the Lord?
Unto whom much is given, much will be asked
God bless you
BG
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for being thankless to you as well as to people who were of help to me in my life. Help me to be thankful and humble. Amen